" Ling Fell and March Snow " at EveryTrail
 

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There's snow on the way for us but before it arrives we have a really sunny Spring equinoctial day.

I was in work but Ann's out for a sunny walk on a local fell . . . but the following day later my journey to work was abandoned to the elements.

Such a change in twenty four hours.

Time for a few catch up jobs at home . . . like posting these photos !

Just sneaking in a few shots from a local walk a few days ago up to the tree on Low Fell.

Here Harry and Bethan look down on Brackenthwaite and across to Whiteside.

Crummock Water from the tree.

" Catching the light "

- - - o o o - - -

It's the 21st March now . . . and the first day of Spring is greeted with wall-to-wall sunshine.

I'm in work so at lunchtime I take a stroll down to the Keswick Boat Landings to see the new National Trust shop.

The official opening is on Saturday and Paul and Claire of Keswick Canoe & Bushcraft will have a desk in there somewhere too.

The recent snow is still coating the high fells and looking superb in the sunshine.

A picture from the next jetty across . . . but it's time to be heading back to town.

The fields of Crow Park opposite the theatre.

Crazy golf in Hope Park.

- - - o o o - - -

In the meantime, with Roger at work for the day, I decided on a walk up Ling Fell

With an impending forecast for very high winds and snow tomorrow, I wanted to make the most of this brief interlude of sunshine.

Parking on the top road above Wythop it is just a short walk back to the gate onto the fell.

There are lovely views over to Cockermouth and the Solway coast today.

Sunny and bright it may be, but the wind was a bitterly cold easterly.

Looking back along the track to the same snow covered Skiddaw that Roger was looking

at in his photos from his Keswick direction . . . Sale Fell remains snow-free, as is Ling Fell.

From the summit trig point . . . looking across to the snow covered North Western fells.

The dogs were intent upon getting rid of any lying snow by eating it up !

From the trig point  I took a slight diversion across to the southern side of the high ground . . .

. . . in order to look across at Wythop Moss to Greystones where we walked a few weeks ago with Jo and Ian.

Bethan is poised head into the wind . . . it is quite strong up here today.

The second half of the walk in early March took us across the lower slopes of Broom Fell . . . but it didn't have any snow on then !

We return to the main summit ridge, this photo showing one of my favourite trig points . . .

and my non-favourite wind turbines at Wharrel Hill in the distance.

From the summit the only way was down . . . so we set off back to the car via the eastern slope of Ling Fell.

A final look across over the diminutive Burthwaite Heights (with the patch of gorse opposite)

with Sale Fell to the left and Skiddaw once again in the distance.

- - - o o o - - -

On the way home I call in for some eggs from our friend Lisa at Whinfell Farm . . .

Lisa, known locally as 'The Shepherdess', takes in the third lamb of triplets plus any other ailing lambs from local farmers

whose lambs are in need care and attention. They are looked after in her nursery.

These lambs , about two weeks old, are doing very well.

Lively little ones.

"Hello"

"This the hand that feeds me" . . .

These lambs are more poorly and are finding it difficult to thrive.

They are benefiting from the infra-red heat lamp.

They are too weak to be in with the more boisterous lambs that are well on the way to recovery in the next pen.

These 22 lambs are just the start of the influx of lambs that Lisa will tend over the next few weeks.

She does a fantastic job and we greatly admire her.

On the way home I stopped for this final view down the valley before turning right for home.

The snow-covered High Stile is the prominent ridge to the right.

Mellbreak can be seen through the trees behind the signpost.

- - - o o o - - -

The following morning, today in fact, the expected weather warnings come true

as strong winds and blizzard conditions blanket most of the north of England . . . including Loweswater.

An abortive drive to work finds me back home earlier than expected.

The camera here shows only a hint of what the snowdrifts and blizzards were like an hour ago on the way to work.

Further down the valley it had almost been a white-out,

with the snow drifting over a foot deep through the gates and hedges and across the valley road.

11 am . . . Mellbreak from the garden.

A slightly more realistic view as the driving snow can be seen against the dark foliage.

Many of the roads are getting covered with drifting snow and the phone box is changing colour too.

The damp snow is sticking to everything and it is very slippery under foot.

Our local farmer Chris still has to get about . . . he has sheep to feed.

Fortunately his lambs aren't due for a few weeks yet.

The road outside the house is still clear but the strong winds and zero temperature makes it an unpleasant place to linger.

Time for another log on the fire I think . . . and perhaps some soup for lunch.